1928 - 1932 Mercedes-Benz 710 SSK 27/170/225 hp Rennwagen - Images, Specifications and Information

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Introduced at the maiden Nürburgring 1000 km race in 1927, the S-Type is considered Ferdinand Porsche's finest design for Mercedes-Benz. Although it was intended purely as a racer, the S-Type was not designed from the bottom up as a racer, but developed from original road going Mercedes models. At that Mercedes-Benz however did not yet have a big enough budget to allow them to setup a full bore race program, which many of the company's Italian and British competitors did have.

Porsche based the S-Type on 400 and 630 models, which were named after their displacement (almost 4 and 6.3 litre respectively). Both models were equipped with six cylinder engines fitted with a Supercharger that engaged only when the throttle was floored. The official type indication of these models included three horsepower figures, the first for the fiscal hp, the second for the performance in natural aspirated form and the third indicated the performance with the Supercharger engaged.

It was the engine that made these Mercedes models interesting, as the chassis and suspension were of a very simple design. One of the model's biggest drawbacks was its size and weight. Agility was definitely not what these models excelled at. A first step was taken in the right direction when the K-Type was introduced in 1926. The K was an abbreviation for the German 'Kurz' or 'short' and indicated the shorter wheelbase compared to the 630.

Although the shorter wheelbase was an improvement, much more was needed to provide the car with proper balance. What made the difference were the modifications found on the first S-Type. The entire car was lowered and the engine moved back in the chassis. Both were aimed at centering the weight, which was beneficial for handling. In addition, the engine capacity was increased to just under 6.8 litres. It was known as the 680 S.

Porsche's improvements paid off and the 680 S made its victorious run at the first ever race on the Nürburgring. With 172 bends, handling is what the 25.6 km track is all about, underlining the S-Types fine cornering ability. Larger engines were fitted to create the 700 SS and ultimately 710 SS. These were intended for road use, but were almost identical to the now legendary SSK and SSKL racers that were derived from the SS. True race cars for the road, producing 225 bhp with the Supercharger engaged.

Featured is a SSK racing car, fitted with the endurance racing version of the supercharged engines. It has a rich contemporary racing history in South America, where it was driven to many victories by Carlos Zatuszek. He was as well known for his racing successes as, as the amount of beer he drank at pit stops. After Zatuszek sold the car in 1935, it had several owners before being bought by Mercedes-Benz enthusiast Rolf Meyer.

The Zatuszek SSK is pictured here at a 2003 Artcurial auction, where the Rolf Meyer collection was offered for sale. He had passed away three years earlier. It exchanged hands for just over EUR3 million, the highest price payed for any car on auction in 2003.